Automatic damper regulator



Jan. 12, 1937. MccLELLAN DAVIDSON 2,067,554

l lAUTQMATIC DAMPER REGULATOR Filed May 19, 1956' nventor 3 (Ittornegs- Patented Jan. l2, 1937 AUTOMATIC DAWER REGULA'R McClellan Davidson, Hanover, Pa.

Application May I9, 193, Serial No. 86,625

4 Claims.

This invention is an improvement in damper regulators and broadly is a pneumatic motor for transmitting power in the form of fluid pressure from its source to any desired instrumentality.

One object of the invention is to provide an efcient, cheap and durable damper regulator which is dependable and operates with great smoothness.

Another' object of the invention is to prevent access of the actuating fluid to parts of the mechanism that might be injured thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diaphragm actuated damper regulating device in which the damper is actuated by compressed air, said air being compressed in correspondence with the pressure in the boiler governed by the damper, in which device the steam does not oontact the diaphragm.

Other objects will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, Fig. l of which represents a vertical cross-section through the device, parts being shown in side elevation, while Fig. 2 shows a perspective View of a cup utilized in the invention.

In the drawing, l represents a chamber formed of a bottom 2 and a top 3, the flanges of which are secured together in any suitable way as by bolts and nuts as shown.

A flexible diaphragm il, preferably what is known as a rubber diaphragm, is securely held between the top and bottom and divides the chamber into an upper chamber communicating with the atmosphere and a lower fluid-tight chamber communicating with the source of pressure which is to actuate the diaphragm. For this purpose the under wall of the bottom 2 has an inturned circular flange 5 forming a nozzle which for reasons appearing hereinafter extends nearly to the lowermost position of the flexible diaphragm 4i. The lower portion of this circular flange is internally screw-threaded for the attachment of a pipe leading to the source of pressure. In the specic case of a damper regulator as illustrated, the steam chamber of a boiler is the source of pressure.

Seated on the bottom wall of the part 2 is an inverted cup-shaped cap 6 having obtruding portions on the rim to hold the rim a slight distance above said bottom wall. It is important that the height of the sides of the cap 6 is such that the inverted bottom of the cap will always be above the upper edge of the inturned flange or nozzle, and may be in contact with the diaphragm when the latter is in its lowest position.

Water is held in the bottom 2 up to the upper level of the inturned circular flange or nozzle,

while the space 'l above this level and below the diaphragm is filled with air.

The relative volumes of the various spaces in the lower chamber is of great importance. The water space between the cap t and the inturned flange must be of such volune relative to the air space i below the diaphragm that when the steam entering under the cap forces the water under the cap out into such space the water will fill the air space before the level of the water under the cap falls below the rim of the cap.

A weight 8 having a stem 9 passing loosely through an aperture in the top 3, rests on the diaphragm. A support i@ integral with or supported on the top E pivotally supports a lever ll to which the stem 9 is pivotally secured. Suitable weights i2 are slidably secured on the arms of the lever.

The member to be driven, a damper in this instance, not shown, is connected to an arm of the lever il.

All the above parts except the diaphragm are madel of rigid material, preferably cast iron.

The operation of the device is thought to be apparent from the above description.

The device containing water up to the level of the nozzle being mounted on a pipe communicating with a source of pressure, a steam chamber for example, the pressure of the steam is exerted on the upper surface of the water under the cap. The water is forced into the air space 'l compressing the air so that the pressure under the diaphragm equals the pressure of the steam. The diaphragm is raised or lowered accordingly, the air above the diaphragm escaping or entering around the stem 9 or if the stem S is made to fit rather closely in the aperture in the top 3, the air enters or escapes through a small aperture provided in the top.

The movement of the diaphragm operates the lever to which the damper or other part to be moved is attached. The weights l2 serve as adjusting means to modify this action as may be desired.

In the operation of this device, the water is automatically kept at the same level. If condensed steam increases the quantity of water it flows over the rim of the nozzle and returns to the boiler. Moreover the pressure fluid, steam, for example, never comes in contact with the flexible diaphragm which is actuated by the compression of the air beneath it.

Having fully described my invention in accordance with the United States statutes, what I claim isz- 1. In a damper regulator, a chamber of rigid material, a exible fluid tight diaphragm dividing said chamber into two parts, the edges of said diaphragm being secured to the side Walls of said chamber, a nozzle on the bottom of said chamber extending toward said diaphragm, the chamber being thus adapted to hold Water up to the level of said nozzle, an inverted cup-shaped cap resting on said bottom and having outlets at its rim, said cap being of sufficient depth to extend above said nozzle said diaphragm being freely movable relatively to said cap, means resting on said diaphragm for transmitting motion of said diaphragm to a part to be moved, whereby steam entering the nozzle will force Water under the cap into the chamber above the cap and compress the air therein to lift the diaphragm.

2. In a fluid motor, a chamber comprising a rigid bottom wall and rigid side walls, and a flexible top wall, a nozzle extending through the bottom Wall, an inverted cup-shaped cap resting at separated portions on said bottom wall, the bottom of said inverted cup-shaped cap extending in a plane above the inside rim of the nozzle and said fiexible top wall being freely movable relatively to said cap, whereby the chamber is adapted to contain water up to the level of the nozzle and in which the proportions are such that the space adapted to contain water is of greater volume than the space thereabove.

3. Means for transmitting pressure from a fluid source to a diaphragm in which the fluid does not contact the diaphragm, comprising an open topped vessel, a ilexible diaphragm secured thereto and forming the top, anozzle extending into said Vessel, a cap resting at separated portions on the bottom wall of said vessel and extending above the inner end of the nozzle, said vessel being adapted to contain water up to the level of the nozzle tip and to contain air above the Water and said flexible diaphragm being freely movable relatively to said cap, that portion o-f the Water containing space under the cap being greater than the air containing space whereby fluid under pressure entering the nozzle forces the Water from under the cap and cornpresses the air to exert the same pressure as the said fluid pressure.

4. In a fluid motor, a chamber comprising a rigid bottom Wall and rigid side Walls, and a flexible top wall, a nozzle extending through the bottom wall into the chamber, means dividing said chamber into two compartments, said means having an aperture at the bottom affording communication between the two compartments whereby water admitted through the nozzle will ll both compartments to the level of the top of said nozzle, the proportions being such that the space thus adapted to contain Water is of greater volume than the volume of the space between the dividing means and the flexible top Wall said exible top being freely movable relatively to said dividing means.

MCCLELLAN DAVIDSON. 

